Tropang 5G force do-or-die after escape of Road Warriors

TNT kept its championship defense campaign alive in dramatic fashion, outlasting NLEX, 96-93, to force a winner-take-all Game 2 in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) Season 50 Commissioner’s Cup quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

The Tropang 5G leaned on a clutch performance from import Bol Bol, who powered through with 34 points and 14 rebounds while delivering the biggest plays down the stretch. With the score tied at 93-all in the final 90 seconds, he calmly split his free throws to restore the lead before helping anchor the defense in the closing possessions.

NLEX still had chances to extend the game. Deschon Winston’s jumper rimmed in and out, while Bol once again went to the line with 5.7 seconds remaining and converted both charities to build a three-point cushion. On the final attempt, he also helped deny Cady Lalanne’s potential game-tying triple as time expired.

While Bol delivered the finishing blows, TNT found crucial balance from its local core. Calvin Oftana knocked in 19 points, drilling four triples and adding five rebounds. Roger Pogoy chipped in 15 points, doing most of his damage in a blistering third-quarter surge where he scored 12, alongside all-around contributions on defense and playmaking.

Veteran guard Jayson Castro added 14 points in a milestone night, officially becoming the 18th member of the league’s 10,000-point club. His steady production further steadied TNT in the high-pressure stretch.

Head coach Chot Reyes praised the collective effort, noting it was the first time in the conference that Oftana, Pogoy, and Castro all finished in double figures in the same game, a key factor in keeping their title defense alive.

For NLEX, Cady Lalanne finished with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Robert Bolick’s early exit proved costly after fouling out late in the fourth. Before leaving the floor, Bolick had 15 points and was orchestrating the offense as the Road Warriors’ primary closer.

Xyrus Torres added 14 points and Tony Semerad contributed 11, but NLEX faltered in the final possessions as Deschon Winston’s 10-point outing failed to translate into a finishing push.

The series now shifts to a do-or-die showdown on Saturday at the Ynares Center in Antipolo, with a semifinal berth against either Meralco or Magnolia on the line.